Improvement in soldiers shoulder-braces for knapsacks



UNrrnD STATES H. s. wnsrou, or Aktion, onto.

lMPFtOVEMENT IN SOLDIERS SHOULDER-BEACH@ FOR KNAPSACKS.

Specification forming part ot' Letters Patent No. dLllW-il. dated November l5, 1864.

To all whoml t may concern:

Be it known that l, H. S. ESTON, of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in soldiers shoulder-braces for carrying knapsacks, haversacks, packs, cartridge-boxes, &c.; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View ofthe brace. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe side opposite from Fig. l.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in the two views.

M vimprovement relates to the manner of forming shoulder-braces for soldiers, by which their knapsacks, packs, haversacks, &e., can be carried without there being any undue pressure or strain upon the back, and the shoulders are prevented from being cut or cliat'ed, as with the straps in ordinary use.

Figs. l and 2 represents the brace, Fig. l being a view of the front and Fig. 2 of the back.

lhe brace consists of two metallic springs or shoulder pieces, A A, made in such a forni as to iit over the shoulders, A being the front and A the back part ot' the springs, that eX- tends down behind, with a strap, B, extending from the front round the sides and back, as represented. y

lhe metallic springs are covered with leather, stitched round the edge, as in the iigures, and the strap B passes through loops b, of the leather, and there is a buckle, C, and loose end B in front, by which the space between the shoulder-pieces A A can be adjusted to suit the size ofthe person using the brace.

D D, E E, and F F are loops secured to the braces, to which the knapsack, havei'sack, catridgebox, 85e., can be attached. The knapsack can be straped to the loops D D, the cartridge-box to the loops E E in front, and

the canteen,haversack, &c., can be suspended on the sides by attaching the ends of the strap to the loops E and F before and behind 5 or they can be arranged in connection with the brace in any other desired manner.

The ordinary mode of carrying the pack, knapsack, &c., forms no brace or support, and they slip down more or less on the back, causing the straps holding the knapsack to pull and rub on the shoulders, cutting and galling them, and the soldier to relieve his shoulders of this pulling weight will be inclined to stoop forward, and the knapsack and pack resting and rubbing about on the back heats and chafes it. This, together with the galling ot the shoulders, proves very serious in long marches but with the brace herein described these difficulties are found to be removed. The metallic spring over the shoulders form a irm brace or support, removing the pressure ot' the knapsack and pack from the back, and causes it to rest more on the shoulders, for the spring, extending down behind, as at A', supports the knapsack, preventing all undue pressure on the back, and allows the soldier to march with ease in an erect position, there being no straps pulling on the shoulders. The strap B round the body, under the arm pits, keeps the springs forming the brace down in place on the shoulders.

rllhus a brace is formed whereby a soldier can carry his knapsaek, haversack, cartridgebox, canteen, tvc., with the greatest facility and ease, and as the haversack, canteen, &c., can be suspended in a proper position on the sides, with this brace as described, the side straps put round the neck and across the body are dispensed with, which likewise rub and chate the neck and body.

This invention is particularly beneiicial in carrying the cartridge box. ln the usual mode, by girding the belt closely around the body, there is great danger of causingruptures. By my improvement this difculty is wholly removed.

What I claim as my improvement, and dcsire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The metallic shoulder-brace, in combination with the strap B, when constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

H. S. WESTON.

Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, A. W. MGCLELLAND. 

